the goan I network
MARGAO
Even as the harvesting of kharif crop is underway across the State, agriculture officials prefer to keep their fingers crossed over this season’s yield and whether the dry spell throughout September will cast shadow on the paddy production.
Agriculture officials appear divided over the effect the dry spell will have on the kharif crop even as cultivators had raised doubts after the absence of rains during September month. Senior agriculture
officer and general manager of Goa Horticulture Corporation Sandeep Faldesai exuded confidence that the dry spell may not have a major bearing on the crop productivity. “It may affect the crop only in the areas where the sowing operation had started late. Otherwise, we do not expect any major effect of the dry spell on the productivity,” Faldesai stated.
Many farmers and officers as well, however, feel that the dry spell may not hold good for the crop productivity and may impact the yield. “This year, Goa had a good monsoon season during the early stages, especially during the sowing operations. But, the dry spell during the month of September has cast shadow on the productivity,” remarked an official.
Faldesai, however, pointed out that though Goa has been a rice-deficit state for some time now, efforts made by the agriculture department in recent times should reverse the trends this kharif season or the coming rabi season. “In many areas in the State, additional fallow land has been brought under cultivation. The government has also introduced community farming, which is expected to give a boost to paddy cultivation, if not this season, but in the coming rabi season,” Faldesai said.
“Farmers in Santo Estevan have brought fallow land under cultivation this year and the result has been very positive. Likewise, there are many fallow lands which have been brought under cultivation for the first time over the years. This will increase the paddy productivity,” he added.
